62 hughes: wardha valley coal-field. 



The superficial area of the basin, taking its outermost limits, cannot 

 be more than one square mile. The Sasti sandstones evidently roll to 

 the west, and rise again at Paoni from a trough in which a handful of coal 

 occurs. No. 38 is the outmost southern point, and No. 46 the outmost 

 northern point of the extension of the seam. The coal dips eastward from 

 Paoni, and is probably at the deepest portion of the basin in No. 37. No 

 samples of it were analysed, but it may be presumed to be similar in 

 quality to the Sasti coal. Summarising the results of the 52 borings made 

 in the Nizam's dominions, it will be seen that the real value of the field 

 near Eajiir has not yet been demonstrated, more bore-holes being required, 

 east of those already put down, to test it fairly ; and the Sasti coal has 

 not been touched by a single decisive boring, except those in the imme- 

 diate proximity of its outcrop. These results are certainly unsatisfactory, 

 considering the expenditure of time ; and much more practical issues 

 would have been arrived at if the application of geological reasoning 

 had been understood. I am not assuming too much, credit in saying 

 that ten sites selected by the Survey, and the samples submitted to their 

 inspection, would have tested a larger area, and more convincingly. 



South of Rajiir, the Barakars are entirely overlapped by the Kamthis 

 for some miles, but near Wiriir they appear once more, and extend on 

 to Antargaon and Mikri, beyond which point they are not seen. It 

 is not an easy matter to define the upper boundary of the Barakars 

 near Chicholi, there being a most confusing similitude in the sandstones 

 of the two series. In examining the section exposed by the Wardha 

 from Tohogaon to Sindi, Danora and Pet, there are many of the rocks 

 which, if isolated, might have been mistaken for Barakars ; but there 

 was little difficulty in placing them, as there was a moderate margin 

 between them and the next series. When the exact limit of that margin, 

 however, had to be defined, the task became perplexing, and I have to 

 confess to the possibility of my line being open to correction. In the 

 reach of the river below Chicholi, and on the Lathi side, some strongly 

 developed white felspathic sandstone, with a very nodular surface, look- 

 ( 62 ) . * 



